This study investigated whether feeding goats with Ascophyllum nodosum before slaughter could reduce microbial contamination and improve food safety outcomes.
Seaweed supplementation resulted in lower of E. coli in the rumen, demonstrating a pre-harvest antimicrobial effect. When combined with standard processing practices (a chlorinated spray wash), goats fed seaweed showed the lowest skin E. coli counts, supporting a multi-step strategy to mitigate contamination.
The findings suggest that bioactive compounds in seaweed, such as phlorotannins, may contribute to limiting pathogen growth and shedding.